1. Florida: Percy Harvin leaves, Superman stays and all 11 on defense return. Unless something wild happens this offseason, the Gators are locked in at the top spot.

2. Texas: WR Jordan Shipley gaining a sixth year of eligibility has been way overlooked. Defense will be salty in Year No. 2 under Will Muschamp.

3. Oklahoma: Sooners staved off the NFL for a season, but must replace four starters on the offensive line. OU has always protected well, but it will be a challenge next fall.

4. Alabama: The loss of Glen Coffee hurt, but Mark Ingram is a talented rising sophomore and the defense will be terrific.

5. Ole Miss: Let's see how the talented Rebels, who didn't win an SEC game in 2007 but were the only team to beat Florida in '08, deal with success.

6. Virginia Tech: The Hokies will be a more confident team from Week 1 because of stability in the offensive backfield with QB Tyrod Taylor and TB Darren Evans, and yet another stout defense.

7. USC: Trojans will be very good by the end of the season. Road games within the first six weeks of the season -- Ohio State, Cal and Notre Dame -- will determine if this team can compete for championships.

8. Ohio State: I can't wait to see dynamic QB Terrelle Pryor after a full offseason of work: weight room, mechanics, film study.

9. LSU: Anyone who doesn't think it's all about the quarterback, look at LSU's season: The Tigers were average and the defense played horribly with poor quarterback play. In a bowl blowout of Georgia Tech -- after freshman QB Jordan Jefferson got a month of preparation -- LSU looked like one of the nation's best teams.

10. Georgia Tech: Wait and see what happens in Year 2 of coach Paul Johnson's Flexbone offense: All 11 starters return, including star TB Jonathan Dwyer.

11. Notre Dame: The confidence QB Jimmy Clausen gained from his play at Hawaii will be huge. In ND's six losses, Clausen threw eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In seven wins, he had 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

12. Oklahoma State: Cowboys will be terrific on offense again (Zac Robinson is a sleeper Heisman Trophy candidate), but this team must get defensive stops in big games.

13. Boise State: Broncos are loaded again, and should be the best non-BCS team. QB Kellen Moore is the most underrated player in the game.

14. Oregon: Don't be surprised if coach Mike Bellotti walks away this offseason and officially hands a talented team to coach-in-waiting Chip Kelly.

15. Penn State: The defense was hit hard by NFL early entries, and the offense will miss a trio of receivers. But QB Daryll Clark will get much better as a second-year starter (and he played well in '08), and Evan Royster is a big-time tailback.

16. California: The Bears will score on just about anyone, but the defense needs to be rebuilt. Another looming issue: A quarterback battle (yep, another one) between Kevin Riley and Brock Mansion.

17. Georgia: If career reserve QB Joe Cox plays well, the 'Dawgs are a top 10 team -- and maybe much more. This team is better than the three ugly losses of 2008; injuries hurt Georgia more than any other team.

18. BYU: Offense has some issues on the line, but QB Max Hall and TB Harvey Unga return -- as do nine starters on defense.

19. Florida State: This is one perplexing team. QB Christian Ponder is erratic, and the 'Noles still lose focus too often. If tough guy offensive line coach Rick Trickett gets his young unit to develop and perform consistently, this team will be dangerous.

20. TCU: Frogs thrive on defense, and nine starters return from one of the nation's best units. QB Andy Dalton has to play better.

21. Kansas: Offense hasn't been a problem the last two years, and won't be again in 2009. The issue is defense, where this team slipped in '08 and must replace key players LBs Joe Mortensen and James Holt.

22. Clemson: Tigers will be tough on defense, and the offense will be different with dual-threat QB Willy Korn and dynamic TB C.J. Spiller becoming the focus of the unit.

23. Nebraska: Huskers must find a quarterback, but a surge of confidence from a nine-win season -- and playing smarter on defense -- will carry over to 2009.

24. Auburn: Gene Chizik has made big moves as a new coach with terrific hires for his staff, including Gus Malzahn (offensive coordinator) and Ted Roof (defensive coordinator). This team has talent on both sides of the ball.

25. Utah: The Utes must find a new quarterback, three receivers and rebuild the offensive line. The loss of DE Paul Kruger is a blow to the defense, and the schedule is brutal.